Archive for October, 2007

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Mistakes you should not make when selling crafts

Wednesday, October 31st, 2007

There are so many different things that you need to know when you are deciding to sell your crafts. You need to decide how you want to sell your crafts, you need to decide which crafts you want to sell, and then you have to decide where you want to sell your crafts. After you have decided all of these things you need to make sure that you don’t make mistakes that will end making it harder for you to sell your crafts. Here are some tips on mistakes you should not make when selling crafts.

The first tip on mistakes you should not make when selling crafts is where to sell your crafts. You don’t want to make the mistake of having your craft in a place where it is not desirable. For example you don’t want to sell wood crafts in a craft store where they sell glass crafts. People that go to crafts stores that have glass crafts are looking to buy glass crafts not wood crafts so you will end up loosing money because you will have to pay for a booth rental or other fees to sell your crafts and then you will not make as much money as you would if you put your crafts in a place where they are desirable.

The second tip on mistakes you should not make when selling crafts is to not sell only expensive crafts. You should make sure that you have a variety of different crafts that people can choose from. If some one walks into a boutique or a craft show and only sees high priced items they might not take as much time to look around as they would if they saw crafts of all prices.

The third tip on mistakes you should not make when selling crafts is to make your display look too cluttered. You want to make sure that you have everything in an organized manner. Make sure that your display has a look that shows you know how to decorate. Usually crafts are used for decoration and when some one is buying something they are usually more drawn to buy it if they see it in a setting that they could picture in their own house. So make sure that you display it in a way that people can relate with. Depending on what type of crafts you make will depend on how you want to display them. Some people like to use greenery around their crafts while others like to use other things that will help accent their crafts. You just want to make sure that you don’t put to much in the display where people can’t even figure out what they are wanting to find in all of the mess.

The fourth tip on mistakes you should not make when selling crafts is to make things bold colors. Most people when putting a craft in their house want it to match. If it is a holiday craft there are exceptions. But if you are making an every day craft that some one can leave up all year long you will want to make sure that you make them in colors that people will want in their house. For example if you make a sign that will hang in some ones house you might not want to paint it orange unless some one has requested it because a lot of people don’t have orange in their house all year long. You will want to make them more neutral colors like black, white, beige. These colors are colors that a lot of different people can use in their homes.

There are so many different types of things you can do when selling crafts. You just need to make sure to take into consideration the mistakes you should not make when selling crafts so you can get the most out of selling your crafts.

 

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How to find buyers for your crafts

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007

There are so many different things that you have to think about when you are deciding to sell your crafts. You have to decide what crafts you are going to sell, where you are going to sell them, and how you are going to sell them. It all comes down to how to find buyers or your crafts. If you want to sell your craft but don’t know how to find buyers, here are some tips on how to find buyers for your crafts.

The first tip on how to find buyers for your crafts is to decide what crafts you are going to sell. For example if you are going to sell crafts that have to do with baby’s or little children you are not going to want to sell to the public where the majority of the people are middle aged with teenagers, or newly weds. You will want to find places where the buyers are women who are just having children or places where grandmas might be.

The second tip on how to find buyers for your crafts is to do a little research. If you are going to sell your crafts in a boutique you will want to find a boutique where most of the buyers are looking for the type of crafts that you are selling. For example if you are selling crafts that are glass you will not want to sell them in a boutique where most of the crafts are wood. The reason why you will not want to do this is because people that are going into that boutique probably know that the boutique sells wood crafts and that is what they are looking for.

The third tip on how to find buyers for your crafts is if you are going to sell your crafts online. You will want to make sure that you put your crafts in the right category. If you are trying to sell your knitted crafts where most people are selling glass crafts. Or if your crafts are rustic you will not want to sell it on a site where most things are modern. You won’t get the advertising you want and the buyers won’t be looking for rustic crafts on a modern craft website.

The fourth tip on how to find buyers for your crafts is if you are going to sell your crafts at a craft show. You will want to make sure that you find out all of the details on what the craft show involves. You don’t want to get involved with a craft show that isn’t targeted towards the same buyers that are going to be targeted towards your crafts. The best way to find this kind of information out is to do research and find out what things have been sold at these craft shows in the past. You can also ask around to people that have gone to the craft shows in the past, this will give you an idea of what they thought about it and will give you an idea of a buyers view.

These are just a couple of tips on how to find buyers for your crafts. There are a lot of tips and tricks on how to find buyers for your crafts. You just have to figure out which ones will work the best for your crafts. Depending on what your crafts are will depend on how to find buyers for your crafts. Make sure that if you are going to do research on how to find buyers you’re crafts that you find crafts that compare to your crafts. If you don’t compare apples to apples you are not going to find the best route on how to find buyers for your crafts.

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Where to find free wood craft patterns

Monday, October 29th, 2007

There are so many different things that one can get into when it comes to having hobbies. If you love crafts and love wood one thing that you might want to look into getting into is wood crafts. If you have considered getting into doing wood crafts but don’t want to pay for the wood craft patterns here are some tips on where to find free wood craft patterns.

The first tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is to go online. There are places online that offer free wood craft patterns. You will first want to decide what type of woods craft patterns you are interested in. There are so many different options out there when it comes to free wood craft patterns that you might be overwhelmed if you do not have an idea of what type of wood craft patterns you are even looking for.

The second tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is to join a wood craft club. Different clubs will have different patterns that they do each month. This is a great way to meet new people and to learn new techniques of different things to can do to improve your wood crafts. Plus you will get free wood craft patterns.

The third tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is to sign up on different wood craft websites. Different websites might have a news letter that they send out every so often that has free wood craft patterns in it. They might also have helpful hints on how to finish your wood crafts after you have got them all cut out.

The fourth tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is at your local hardware store. Different hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowes have yearly magazines that come out every so often during the year that have different woods projects in them. Depending on what type of wood craft patterns you are looking for will depend on if you want t subscribe to these type of magazines.

The fifth tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is to look in your home decorating magazines or on your home decorating magazines website. Different home decorating magazines have different things that they have display each month. Sometimes they have wood crafts for holidays. If they do they will usually give you the wood craft pattern in the magazine or give you a website where you can get it from. If it is there featured one they will usually have the wood craft pattern for free.

The sixth tip on where to find free wood craft patterns is to subscribe to a wood craft magazine. If you subscribe to a wood craft magazine you will be able to get free wood craft patterns each month. This is a great way to get new ideas for wood crafts along with get lots of free wood craft patterns.

These are just a few of the places where to find free wood craft patterns. If you have looked all these places to find free wood craft patterns and haven’t had any luck finding what you are looking for you might want to do some research. Go online and search different wood craft sites and see if there is a wood craft even available for what you are looking for. Once you have found the pattern you will be able to get a better idea of how you need to work your searches so you will know where to find the free wood craft patterns you are looking for.

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What is the history of woodcrafting, and why is it that important to your wood

Sunday, October 28th, 2007

There are so many different things that you need to take into consideration when you are doing wood crafts. One thing that you need to think about is what is the history of woodcrafting? Knowing that they history of woodcrafting is will help you to understand why it’s important to your wood crafts. Here is some information to help you understand a little better about what the history of woodcrafting is, and why it is that it’s important to your wood crafts.

The first thing is to know what is the history of woodcrafting? Woodcrafting has been around for centuries. There are so many things that have been crafted from wood that all came about from woodcrafting. There are so many stories that you here of a man carving a piece of wood on his porch. Woodcrafting is something that people for centuries have taken pride in.

The second thing is why the history of wood crafting is important to your wood crafts. The history of woodcrafting is important to your wood crafts because you need to keep in mind that the wood crafts that you are making today people will probably compare to the woodcrafting that was done before. You want to make sure that when you are making your wood crafts that you take as much pride in your work as the people who carved them centuries ago did. You want to make sure that your wood crafts are made with quality products. If your wood crafts have carving that is done in them you need to make sure that you take the time to carve them right and not just hurry to get your wood crafts done.

The third thing to know is the different techniques that were done in the history of woodcrafting and why it is important to your woods crafts. There are different techniques that might have been done in history that are still used today. For example a technique that is called burn through is used today just like it was used in history. Burn through is done by burning certain pieces of a wood craft to give it character or to shade in certain areas that you want to stand out. Another technique that has been used for years and years is sanding. If you are doing a wood craft and want it to look old a distressed you can paint it and sand it in different spots to give it a warn out look. People have been doing this to their woods crafts for a while to help add character and depth to their wood crafts.

These are just a few of the different examples of why the history of woodcrafting is and why it’s important to your wood crafts. There are so many different things that the history of woodcrafting has to do with wood craft today. If you want to learn more about the history of woodcrafting and why it’s important to your wood crafts you can do some research and see what different things you can find in the history of wood crafting and then figure out how you can still use it today in your wood crafts. Also learning about the history of woodcrafting will help to give you a better idea of how you can incorporate different ideas to help make your woods crafts better. It can also give you ideas on new wood crafts you can make. 

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A discussion of the materials used for wood crafts

Saturday, October 27th, 2007

There are a lot of different materials that you use depending on what type of craft you are doing. If you are doing wood crafts you will have different materials then other crafts. If you have not done wood crafts before and want to get an idea of what type of materials you are going to need. Here is a discussion of the materials used for wood crafts.

The first discussion of the materials used for wood crafts is of course the wood itself. Depending on what type of wood craft you are doing will help determine what type of wood you will want to use. If you are doing a wood craft that you are wanting to look old and rustic yet still look like something you would find in the country you will probably want to think about using barn wood. Barn wood is great pieces of wood that is already old and cracked all you have to do is sand it down and paint it and make it into the particular craft you are wanting. Old barn wood can be found at a variety of different craft stores. In some areas you will actually see signs on the side of the road where people want to get rid of barn wood from a barn that they have torn down. This is a great way to get authentic barn wood.

The second discussion of the materials used for wood crafts is what you will need to sculpt your wood crafts. If you are making wood crafts that are signs you will need some sort of saw that is going to be able to cut the wood to the right size and be able to do the different edges you will want on your different signs. For example some wood signs you might want to have a routed edge while others you might not want an edge at all.

The third discussion of materials used for wood crafts is what you are going to finish them with. If you are doing a wood craft that you want to look distressed you are going to want to use crackled paint which is a type of paint that you stick over other paint to help it crack and split to make it look like it is very old and worn. Or you can use just normal acrylic paint that can finish your wood crafts, or just a sealant that will help your wood crafts from splinting.

The fourth discussion of materials used for wood crafts is if you are going to need to sand them or not. Some wood materials you are going to want to use an electric sander because there will be a lot of sanding involved. While others you might have to do a little bit of light sanding so you might just want to use a piece of sand paper and hand sand it.

These are just a few of the things that you will want to have discussions on when you are starting to do wood crafts. You can’t do wood crafts without certain materials. This is why it is so important that you have at least one discussion of the materials used for wood crafts. If you are going to sell your wood crafts you will want to make sure that you know what materials to use to make your wood crafts look the best. If you have questions on what materials to use on your wood crafts you can go online and join a discussion of the materials used for wood crafts.

 

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What tools do you need for bead crafting?

Saturday, October 27th, 2007

Whether you are making jewelry, making crafts, or simply stringing beads there are some basic tools that you are going to need for your projects. The more advanced you get with bead crafting the more tools that you are going to need. But if you are just starting out you can pick and choose which tools will be right for your bead crafts and simply buy more as you need them. One of the best things about buying bead crafting tools is that you can find them in craft stores or on the internet.

Here are some of the basic tools that you are going to need for bead crafting.
 Jewelry tweezers – these tweezers design allows precision selection of small beads and findings
 Tweezers set – by having a set of at least four tweezers that come in a variety of sizes and shapes you will be able to easily handle any kind of small bead, findings and get help for those really intricate projects
 Bent nose pliers – these are great for gripping, creating angles and getting a secure hold in really hard to reach places. They do this because the nose of the pliers is bent rather than straight.
 Long nose pliers – these sometimes come with a side cutter and are a great all purpose tool. With these pliers you can do any type of bending, twisting or cutting of wire.
 Chain nose pliers with smooth jaws – these pliers have a precision tip and a smooth jaw (which is the inside of the pliers that are used for gripping). The smooth jaw allows for bending and shaping wire without crimping it. You can close bead tips without damage and because of how long the tips are you can work in tight places.
 Tweezers with magnifier – these tweezers will be used the same way as other tweezers but provide the benefit of the magnifier which allows you a closer look at small beads and wire, which lets you do some precision crafting with beads.
 End nippers – these can be used to cut wire or sheet metal and provide a flush wire cut, meaning you have a nice even cut
 Bead crimp pliers – this is an essential tool for any type of bead work because it gives your crafts a professional look. The dual crimp creates a smooth and rounded finish to crimp beads or tubes.
 Mini pliers tool set – these are the same type of pliers that are used for larger beads but because of their miniature size they are perfect for working with your smaller beads
 Memory shear – this tool cuts hard wire with a clean straight edge
 Bead reamer – if you are using drilled beads this tool is important because it is designed to enlarge, de-burr and round out the bead holes that were previously drilled.
 Chain nose pliers – these were designed to help with your hands getting tired and to allow you to have precision handling. They are used to handle tiny beads, findings and craft pieces.
 Plastic jaw pliers – these pliers protect the surface finish of wire and other materials while it is being handled. This tool is also great for sculpting wire.
 Round nose pliers – used to create smooth loops and curves in wires. Are very important for creating wrapped loop jewelry
 Jump ring tool – you basically wear this tool like a ring for when you are beading. It is used to open jump rings (key chains holders), it is also designed to hold them open so that you can continuously work on the jump rings

As you can tell your main tools for bead crafting are pliers and wire cutters because you are going to need to be able to cut the wire and string the beads onto the wire. Pliers make stringing the beads easier and wire cutters give you that nice clean cut so your work looks professional.

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Where to go to find free crochet patterns online

Friday, October 26th, 2007

There are so many possibilities with crochet patterns.  And crocheting can be so worthwhile because you’re creating something with your hands that can be used by your friends and family.  And finding free crochet patterns can make your crocheting even more fun, because you’re saving money and finding great patterns to give you guidance.  So, where exactly can you find some of these free crochet patterns online?

If you’re just beginning to crochet, here’s a list of what you will need: a crochet hook, some simple yarn, a basic pattern and a good attitude.  Since you might not be sure what kind of hook, yarn or pattern to buy, here are some suggestions. 

Crochet hooks come in many types and sizes.  Steel crochet hooks range from 3.5 to 0.75 millimeters in the size of the hook, or from 00 to 14 in American sizing. These hooks are used for fine crochet work.  Aluminum or plastic crochet hooks are available from 2.5 to 19 millimeters in hook size, or from B to S in American sizing. These crochet hooks will all vary in prices, ranging from only a few dollars for aluminum or plastic hooks, to over twenty-five. 

Next, you need to find some yarn.  There are five classifications of crochet yarn. They are: super fine; fine; light; medium; bulky; or super bulky.  Each type has its own weight or thickness with roving and bulky yarn being the heaviest.  These types of yarn will also vary in prices, from only a few dollars a skein, to well over fifteen and even more. 

Looking at the prices of supplies, you might be thinking that it’s a good thing you can find patterns for free!  But where can you do that?

First, talk to your friends who also like to crochet.  They can help find some interesting and unique patterns.  You’ll be surprised by how much you can learn from your friend’s crochet patterns and from asking their advice for your own patterns.  Look through their patterns to see if you can get inspiration and ask them for ideas about your own crocheted work.  If you have a specific type of yarn or item that you want to use, then show them the item or yarn and ask them for ideas for patterns. You may be astonished at how much inspiration and help that they can give you.

You can also find many different sources for free crochet patterns online.  There are many websites that offer free resources for crocheting, including ideas, elements, and patterns. These websites can be a great way for you to get some free information about crocheting, so that you can spend your money on other things.  All you need to do is type, "free crochet patterns" into your search bar and hit enter. You will be amazed at the large number of websites that will come up.

Free crochet patterns can make your crocheting hobby even more fun and enjoyable. By taking advantage of the things that you can get free, you will find that you have money to spend on other things like fancy supplies.  This may allow you to buy some crochet materials that you might not have otherwise been able to work into your budget. It doesn’t matter where you get your free crochet patterns.  Be it from friends, family, online, or a crochet class, you are sure to find that you can use crochet patterns to customize your work and make them feel more like you.  And that will be so priceless when, in years to come, you are looking back at your crocheted work and remembering what it meant to you to create it.   

 

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Where to go to learn how to knit

Thursday, October 25th, 2007

Are you interested in learning how to knit? Have you always thought about knitting because you have seen it done? Are you looking for a way to make things that don’t require super artistic talent? Perhaps your grandmother or mother used to knit and she always tried to teach you but you never had the time. Whatever the situation is, it is never too late to learn how to knit. One of the best things about knitting is that you are never too old to learn how to knit. And once you start knitting you might discover how relaxing it is. And probably the best thing of all is how many different things you can knit. Where you can go to learn how to knit depends a lot on how you are able to learn. For example if you can teach yourself without the aid of a teacher than you should be able to learn from books, video or the internet, but if you need to have someone walking you through the steps than you would want to take a class or learn from a friend.

So if you are interested in learning how to knit here are some places that you can go to learn how to knit.

Tip one:
One of the best places that you can go to learn how to knit is to friends or family members that already knit. By learning from somebody you know you are going to be in a relaxed environment and you can get first hand knowledge from watching them knit, as well as getting instructions in a one on one setting. Sometimes learning in a group is harder than learning by yourself, but you will still have the benefit from their experience.

Tip two:
Another way that you can learn how to knit is through books. You can go to book stores, craft stores, fabric stores, libraries, or any other place that sells books on knitting and buy books that can teach you how to knit. By using books you can read about all of the steps involved in knitting, look at diagrams on how it is done and obtain free patterns so that you can practice. And you are not limited to only using books, many times you can find knitting magazines that will teach you how to knit. But the bad thing about learning from a book is that you don’t have the benefit of asking people questions about what you should be doing, nor do you get to learn their tips and tricks.

Tip three:
Another way to learn how to knit is through the use of instructional videos. These are a great way to help you learn how to knit because you can stop and rewind the video at any point until you understand the concept or until you master the skill. You can also benefit from watching the people show you the steps and the proper way to hold the needles, etc. But again you don’t have the benefit of being able to ask questions.

Tip four:
Another place to go to learn how to knit is to a knitting class. You can take classes in knitting from craft stores or fabric stores, as well as community colleges or adult schools. These classes are also offered in different levels so if you are a beginner you can take a beginning class and then you can move up as you see fit. You can also take specialty classes that will give you tips and tricks on knitting with specialty types of yarn and needles.

Tip five:
Like everything else in our world today you can also learn how to knit on the internet. There are a variety of websites on the internet that offer step by step instructions on how to knit. These websites also include instructional videos that you can download, as well as reading material to help you learn.

 

 

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Finding the Right Kind of Thread for Cross Stitch

Wednesday, October 24th, 2007

How many of us (I use the word us, because I have personally done this) have ever walked into a craft store, picked out a cute cross stitch picture, along with the colors you wanted to use, paid for it, and then when you got home and opened it up, realized that there were actual colors and specific types of thread you were suppose to buy for it to look the way they said it would?  Frustrating to say the least!  Yes it’s true; there are different types of threads to use when cross stitching.  How to find the right thread to cross stitch with can be tricky, so let me first have you ask yourself, what kind of project are you doing?   After you have an idea, reading these next tips will help you in finding the right thread for your project.

1. Most thread types can be used for cross-stitch and embroidery projects.  One brand is DMC Stranded Cotton.  This is a six-ply long fiber cotton, and is one of the finest quality threads.  DMC colors will not fade, yet are machine washable.  If you’re looking to cross stitch and embroider this is the right thread to us.  (Stitching hint:  try using different plies of thread on a scrap piece of fabric before you begin your project.  A large number of plies will give heavy embroidered look, while a small number of plies give you a lighter texture.)
2. Rayon and Silk thread are very similar to your traditional six-ply embroidery floss.  The difference with these is that they have a bit of a shine and slippery feel to them, thus making them a little more difficult to work with.  Anchor stranded cotton is one of the highest quality mercerized cotton.   
3. Flower thread (on the other hand) is 100% cotton, and gives a matte like finish.  Along with cotton floss, pearl-cotton threads, and silk floss, flower thread can be found with a variegated "one of a kind" appearance.  Flower thread will usually result in a gentle, shady appearance, but will not change the look of the thread colors.
4.  Specialty threads can give your project a unique look.  Specialty threads are those such as metallic looking threads, threads that are rich in color, textured threads, and glow-in-the-dark threads.  DMC also offers a collection of these specialty 
5. If you are tackling a needlepoint or crewel embroidery project the right kind of thread to us is wool yarn, more specifically Persian yarn, or Anchor multicolor stranded cotton.  It will produce subtle color changes when stitched, so each project you complete ends up being quite unique.  This type of wool is great for working on canvas projects because it has very minimal fraying.

I hope this helps in getting you on your way to finding the right kind of thread for your cross stitching project.  Not that you know a little bit more about the different kinds of threads, you won’t have to run back and forth to the craft store trying to figure out what it is you need. 

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Best Way to apply Vinyl lettering to painted wood

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Custom vinyl lettering is becoming rapidly popular for many applications. It is a great way to achieve a smooth, professional look for home décor projects. It can also be used for business advertising and public advertising. The ideas are endless, and the applications a lot of fun. Vinyl can be applied to walls, tiles, glass, and more. So, when you apply your vinyl to wood, make sure you do it right so that it sticks right and looks great like it should.

When applying vinyl to wood it must be a painted with a smooth, glossy enamel so the lettering/decal can adhere to it easily. Vinyl lettering is ready to apply self adhesive lettering, but it is not going adhere well to paint that is not glossy enamel.

Apply to painted wood using the following steps, but prepare all needed materials first:

1. Before applying be sure to clean the wood surface so it is dust free and clear of anything that would make the vinyl less adhesive. The lettering will not adhere if surface is not properly cleaned. So, take your time, sand down the wood, paint it well, and then use a damp cloth, or a duster to clean it. The cleaner the surface, the better the adherence.

2. Peel off the paper backing and put to the side. Your vinyl will be sticky on the back, so be careful not to let it touch or it will be hard to get it apart. Make sure everything is ready and close by before you peel the back off.

3. Mark the area where the letters will be applied and carefully place the letters on the wood making sure the letters are placed in the exact area and if needed they can be measured to assure they are centered. You would be wise to measure before hand so that it is easy and fast to apply.

4. Depending on the size of the letters or sign, the letters can be rubbed onto the wood by simply using a smooth popsicle stick. Carefully apply the letters to the wood with side to side even strokes to make letters stay on wood. This is a very important step to avoid any air bubbles as you apply the letters. Avoid any hard strokes as it could tear or damage the letters. The thinner the lettering, the more careful you need to be to get it to stick.

5. Once all areas of the letters have been rubbed on the wood the backing of the vinyl should easily peel off and the letters will be applied to the wood to create a professional look for your project. Smooth them over with your finger one time after the backing is removed just to ensure they are stuck down well.

6. Sometimes you may apply a final spray shellac to give it a shiny finish and protect the wood and lettering from dust and sun exposure, but it is not necessary. It will help your vinyl stick better, and protect it, but your vinyl will work fine without this step.

The best thing is that it is a simple process. If you follow the step by step instructions given above, it should very simple. So, get your popsicle stick and wood surface ready before trying to apply the vinyl.

Remember the things we treasure the most are the things we make with our hands. So happy crafting, and many more projects to come!!!!!!

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